Recycling in Richmond

Find out how and where to recycle various items

The City of Richmond offers many services for city residents through the Department of Public Works including a variety of recycling and proper disposal programs for many household waste items that can be diverted from local landfills. Check out the Recycling Wizard feature on this page to see what you can recycle in the City.

Appliances (White Goods)

Appliances and white goods such as refrigerators, stove, washing machine. Recycle at East Richmond Road Public Use Area. $15 fee applies for each appliance (airconditioner, refrigerator, etc) containing Freon (CFC or HCFC gas). This charge is to offset the cost of properly recycling this regulated material from the appliance.

Motor Oil Additives. Recycle motor oil additives along with paint and solvents in the paint drums at the East Richmond Road Public Use Area in the recycling area.

Oil Filters. Recycle at East Richmond Road Public Use Area in the recycling area.

Other Auto Fluids. Recycle auto fluids such as transmission fluid, power steering fluid, hydraulic fluid, gear oil, jet fuel, diesel fuel and fuel oil (#2, #4, #6) in the used motor oil tank at East Richmond Road Public Use Areas in the recycling area

East Richmond Road Public Use Area closed on Saturdays.

Batteries

Alkaline. Safe for disposal in your trash.

Lead acid. Recycle at East Richmond Road Public Use Area in the recycling area or automotive supply store. See telephone directory for addresses and phone numbers of Battery Barn, Batteries Plus, automotive supply stores or search online.

Rechargeable. Recycle at East Richmond Road Public Use Areas in the recycling area, home improvement centers, electronics retailers, Radio Shack, Batteries Plus. See telephone directory for addresses and phone numbers of Battery Barn, Batteries Plus, ,home improvement centers, electronics retailers or other retailers or search online.

East Richmond Road Public Use Area closed on Saturdays.

Cartons

Recycle food and beverage cartons such as milk, juice, juice boxes, soup, wine, creamer, egg substitutes. Rinse and place cap back on the carton before placing it in your recycling container.

Clothing and Shoes

Resell at local consignment stores or donate to Goodwill, Salvation Army, schools, churches, etc. See telephone directory or search online for addresses and phone numbers of charitable organizations or consignment stores.

Televisions. Recycle at CVWMA special electronics recycling collection event (fees may apply) or donate working TV’s to charitable organization. Newer, operational items may be donatable to a charitable organization, but check first to find out if the item is desired.See telephone directory or search online for addresses and phone numbers of charitable organizations.

Stereos and VCRs. Recycle at CVWMA special electronics recycling collection event or donate to charitable organization. Before donating a computer to a charitable organization (such as Goodwill or Salvation Army), find out if the organization has use for your particular model. See telephone directory or search online for addresses and phone numbers of charitable organizations.

Paints and Solvents

Latex paints. Not accepted for recycling. Reuse by offering larger quantities of left-over paint to neighbors, school drama departments, or county/city graffitti cleanup program. Dispose by allowing paint to dry out and include in your regular trash or at a trash container located at one of the East Richmond Road Public Use area. Accelerate drying by adding kitty litter, sawdust, or other absorbent material to paint in can. Or purchase paint-drying compunds at area home improvement centers or paint retailers.

*Hardback cover books. Must remover cover and binding to be recycled. Ordonate to local book exchange, charities, schools, churches, etc. See telephone directory or search online for addresses and phone numbers of charitable organizations.

Plastics

Household kitchen, laundry, and bath plastic bottles and containers (#1 – # 7). Rinse and replace cap back on to recycle. Recycle through City of Richmond’s residential recycling collection program, or at one of the city’s drop-off recycling centers or recycling center at the Public Use Areas.

Can I recycle a motor oil bottle with a #2 on the bottom?

No. Motor oil residue has always been one of the biggest contaminants for our plastics markets. The oil residue seeps into the porous plastic and cannot be removed through the washing process after the plastic is ground up. Oil and water do not mix. Of course you should never try to rinse or wash a motor oil bottle yourself since motor oil down the sink or storm drain causes a much larger environmental crisis than a plastic bottle in the trash.

Save those containers to pour used motor-oil back in to for return to your local automotive parts store.

Propane Tanks

Propane Tanks. Recycle at East Richmond Road Public Use Area. Ask personnel at the facility where to place these items.

East Richmond Road Public Use Area closed on Saturdays.

Tires

Used Tires. Return to retail location when new tires are purchased or Recycle at East Richmond Road Public Use Area. Place at tire trailer. Please note, residents are allowed to dispose of four automotice (4) tires with their paid fee to dispose. Additional tires from a residence are $1.00 each. Tires from businesses and from cleaning up vacant lots will be charged $125 per ton.

East Richmond Road Public Use Area closed on Saturdays.

Yard and Vegetative

Christmas Trees. Recycle at City of Richmond’s “Bring One for the Chipper” annual event held the second Saturday in January. Please contact Darlene Mallory with the Clean City Commission for more information on this annual event.

Yard Waste (brush). Recycle at East Richmond Road Public Use Area. Residents can place large bulk items, like brush, besides their Supercans. These items will be picked up at no charge within a 2-4 week period. There is no need to separate yard waste from household waste. For more information on the collection of solid waste and bulk wastes, visit City website or please call the Department of Public Works Customer Care Center at 804-646-0999

Yard Waste (leaves, grass clippings). Compost at home or Recycle at East Richmond Road Public Use Area. Residents can place large bulk items, like brush, besides their Supercans. These items will be picked up at no charge within a 2-4 week period. There is no need to separate yard waste from household waste. . For more information on the collection of solid waste and bulk wastes, visit City website or please call the Department of Public Works Customer Care Center at 804-646-0999

Other Options

1-800-Got-Junk?: national company that loads and hauls away unwanted items to recycling or waste facilities for a flat fee (check the telephone directory for similar waste hauling companies)

Junk King of Central Virginia: local company that provides turnkey junk removal services to residential and business customers in great Richmond region. They recycle at least 60 % or more of everything they pick up.

Trash Fairies: local company that provides valet doorstep recycling and trash service for multi-family housing.

Car donations. See telephone directory or search online for addresses and phone numbers of local charitable organizations that accept car donations.